Dilbireen's Trek

This mixed media painting is an homage to Yazidi families who were forced to migrate from their enclave. It is about the true story of a young couple and their infant son who unwittingly led a other Yazidis fleeing persecution to what they hoped was the safety of an Iraqi refugee camp.

It portrays images of their fleeing journey on Mount Sinjar’s craggy terrain and changing skies through the child’s eye. Its mood depicts the panoply of feelings he may have experienced riding in his parents’ arms. And as a baby would, his unbridled imagination may have placed him as the group's leader, able to spin wheels of light out of the stars to illuminate the adventurous path.

The baby is the bright angel-star ahead of the others who became a physical angel when the trek took a nasty turn. The infant was severely burned while napping in the family’s tent yet was later miraculously brought to the US for reconstructive surgeries.

The now toddler is still recovering nicely, and the many auspicious events that so far occurred in his short life seem to imply that he may be an emanation of Tawsi Melek, the Peacock Angel who in Yazidi cosmology embodies the power and wisdom of the Supreme God and is able to also rely on six more angels to assist him in his divine work.

After much physical and emotional suffering augmented by political wind changes in the USA, the family is now together, seeking asylum and envisioning a safer and more peaceful life, while learning a new language and continuing the child's treatments.

Dilbireen is indeed a bright guiding star!

All proceeds from the art will go directly to help this courageous family.